Is my PS3 Dead?

Hello all Forum Members,

I really need your help. My PS3 just broke down yesterday. I woke up in the morning, and at about 11AM, I switched on my PlayStation, and wanted to look for some photos. I selected a picture slide show. In a few seconds, the console just shut down. I tried to switch it on again, but got first a green light, followed by a yellow light and finally a flashing red light (along with 3 beeps). The red light keeps flashing and I can't do much about it, except press the power button, and the flashing red light stops and becomes a solid red light. After doing some research, I found out that I had one of 2 problems

A) A hardware error, where one of the hardware components has failed as a result of overheating or something else.
B) A hard drive problem, according to the PlayStation 3 Repair Guide.

I found out that if it is a overheating problem, the repair would cost around Us$150.
Is it either of these problems, or is it a hard drive problem.
I have a PAL System, a CECHC04 model.

Please provide me with help, because I trust the PS3News forum more anything else. I will be more than happy to provide any info.

Well if you have tried a few times to get into the recovery menu and were unsuccessful the problem shouldn't be your hdd.

If you have a spare power supply laying around i would try that first (only if your ps3 is out of warranty)

If you do have a warranty left i would just send it out,.. that will likely be your best bet also if you are out of warranty.. that or pick up a ps3 the same model as yours with a bad drive and put yours in it. Which might even cost you less than having sony repair it.

Well if you have tried a few times to get into the recovery menu and were unsuccessful the problem shouldn't be your hdd.

If you have a spare power supply laying around i would try that first (only if your ps3 is out of warranty)

If you do have a warranty left i would just send it out,.. that will likely be your best bet also if you are out of warranty.. that or pick up a ps3 the same model as yours with a bad drive and put yours in it. Which might even cost you less than having sony repair it.

Which type of power supply? A PS3's power supply? I don't have a spare one around. Where can I get one?

Take your hard drive out of the PS3, it doesnt void warranteess if you still have one. The PS3 will still boot up without the HDD as all the firmware is stored on flash memory within the console. At least this way you will know wheather or not its the HDD or another hardware failiure.

Take your hard drive out of the PS3, it doesnt void warranteess if you still have one. The PS3 will still boot up without the HDD as all the firmware is stored on flash memory within the console. At least this way you will know wheather or not its the HDD or another hardware failiure.

Just tried. +rep. didn't work. so i know its another hardware problem.

21. Clean off old heat sink compound from the 2 mainprocessors using Isopropyl alcohol making sure all traces of the old heat sink compound has gone.

22. Clean both touch plates on bottom of fan/heat sink assembly with Isopropyl alcohol until all traces of the old heat sink compound has gone.

23. Now using a vacuum cleaner or compressed air blower get rid of all dust build up in the case and on all component parts of the ps3 (pay special attention to the fan assembly and heat sink fins (MUST BE CLEAR OF DUST).

24. Once cleaned you should now have a nice pile of bits that looks something like this, see below.
Now for the tricky bit!

25. Check the top metal cover plate (underside) for burn-in marks, as you can see below this ps3 got very hot before it yloded!

26. Place the ps3 mother board on a flat heat resistive surface (kitchen work top or melamine shelf will be fine).

27. Turn heat gun on and set temperature to 350 deg and the fan speed to low (to high and it will move the surface mount bits).Allow gun to get up to temperature before continuing!

31. Once all marked areas have been heated/reflowed on the mother board LEAVE for at least 10 to 15 minutes to cool. (DO NOT MOVE MOTHER BOARD WHILE COOLING).

32. A popping noise may be heard during cooling, donít worry this is normal.

33. NON CPU side.

34. After 10 to 15 seconds move onto the next area.

35. Once all marked areas have been heated/reflowed on the mother board LEAVE for at least 10 to 15 minutes to cool. (DO NOT MOVE MOTHER BOARD WHILE COOLING).

36. A popping noise may be heard during cooling donít worry this is normal. Heat sink compound still on in this picture, remove before reflowing. Heat sink rubber pads still on in this picture remove
before reflowing also hold ribbons out of way while reflowing

Congratulations!!

You have just repaired youíre yloded ps3 mother board.

37. Now its time to apply new heat sink compound to the 2 processors, when doing this its always best to follow the manufacturers instructions but I believe the process is the same with all types (please check instructions that come with paste), before continuing

38. The paste I am using is called AKASA 450 itís a silver based compound with a thermal conductivity of 9.24w/m deg c and an operating range of 0 to 200 deg c. You can buy it from most pc shops but I get mine from my local Maplin ( I have been told that there is a better compound on the market called arctic silver but I havenít tried it as yet so the choice is yours).

39. Use syringe supplied and dispense a small worm of compound from top to bottom on the left hand side of processor chip, now using credit card supplied spread compound evenly and thinly over processor face (to much is bad and not enough is also bad) the ideal amount is when you can almost see through the paste.

Thanks a lot, I think this could work. Do you have some screenshots? I need a few, because this is really complicated for someone like me. I've worked with computers, but not with a PS3.

Thanks again

Youtube will be your friend here, these will show you how to strip down and replace the heat sync compound on the cpu/gpu. I have used the Artic MX-3 compound to use as a replacement of two ps3's so far with success.

Here is it on the Artic MX-3 website: arctic-cooling.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=39_&mID=274&language=en

Tested and proven, by using the ARCTIC MX-3, the CPU core temperature is 7įC and 2.5įC lower than using stock compound and other branded ones respectively. It shows how significant a high performance thermal compound can be to reduce the temperature. Such excellent cooling result is surely what every overclocker and gamer is looking for. The ARCTIC MX-3 is the easiest way to push the overclockability further!

Safer. Better.
The ARCTIC MX-3 is a metal-free, non-electrically conductive compound which does not cause any damage of the components if it is accidentally spilled out on them. It eliminates any risks of short circuit and provides more protection to the CPUs, graphic cards and other applications between power semiconductor components and heatsinks. The ARCTIC MX-3 is a truly hassle-free premium thermal compound you can rely on.